Door retainer



im 2G, 1970 R. A. YoMBoR QVM DOOR RETAINER Filed Feb. 5, 1968 ff Aw w lfd. Y

United States Patent O 3,490,091 DOOR RETAINER Raymond A. Yombor, 1554 Moulin, Madison Heights, Mich. 48071 Filed Feb. 5, 1968, Ser. No. 703,130

Int. Cl. Ef 5/06 U.S. Cl. 16-85 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE' A device for retaining a door or similar type closure member in a preselected open position with respect to its associated door jamb, frame or equivalent support structure; the retaining device comprising a one-piece member having a pair of mounting sections and an intermediate retaining section; the device preferably being fabricated of a relatively stiff, yet bendable spring-like material and having means thereon for operative support interjacent the associated door and door jamb, whereby the device functions to resiliently resist inadvertent movement of the door toward its respective closed position.

The purpose of the above abstract is to provide a nonlegal technical statement of the disclosure of the contents of the instant patent application so as to serve as a searching-scanning tool for scientists, engineers and researchers. Accordingly, this abstract is not intended to be used in understanding the principles of the present invention hereinafter described in detail, nor is it intended to be used in interpreting or in any way limiting the scope or fair meaning of the claims appended hereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Under many circumstances, it is desirable to positively maintain a door or a similar hingedly mounted closure member in a substantially open position, whereby, for example, to allow for proper air circulation and the like, as well as to assure against such a door inadvertently slamming or banging closed. Over the years, a wide array of different type devices have ybeen proposed and used for maintaining doors in their respective open positions; however, the majority of such devices have proven to be unsatisfactory, either from the standpoint that they were excessively complicated to install and operate, or on the basis that they required an unnecessarily high degree of maintenance. Accordingly, there has long been and presently exists a need for a positive acting, effective, yet simple and economical device which may be easily installed to maintain a door in an open position. As will hereinafter be described in detail, the present invention is intended to satisfy this need through the provision of a novel door retaining device that will be found to be not only positive in action, but also economical to manufacture and extremely easy to install and operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to doors and similar hingedly mounted closure members, and, more particularly, to a new and improved device for retaining a door in an open position.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved door retainer of the above described character.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a new and improved door retainer of the above character that may be operatively mounted in a minimum amount of time and with a minimum amount of effort.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide a door retaining device of the above character that 1s effective and durable in operation, and which is of arl extremely simple construction and thus may ybe economlcally manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a top elevational view of a door retainer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in operative association with a typical door and support structure therefor;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the door retainer illustrated in FIGURE 1, as taken substantially along the line 1 1 thereof, and

FIGURE 3 is a top elevational view, similar to FIG- URE 1, and shows the door illustrated therein disposed in a partially closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, a door retaining device 10, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown in operative association with a fragmentary portion of a conventional door or similar closure member 12 and an associated door frame or jamb support structure 14. The door 12 is adapted to be hingedly or pivotably secured to the frame 14 in a conventional manner by means of a plurality of spaced hinges, one of which is shown herein and generally designated by the numeral 16. As illustrated, the hinge 16 includes leaf sections 18 and 20 that may be secured by any suitable screws, bolts or the like (not shown) to the adjacent edge 22 of the door 12 and surface portion 24 of the frame 14, the hinge leaves 18, 20 being pivotably connected to one another in the usual manner by means of a suitable pintle or pivot pin, as shown at 26 in FIG- URES 1 and 3. As will lbe apparent, the door 12 is adapted to be pivotably biased between its open position shown in FIGURE 1, wherein the plane of the door 12 is disposed at substantially right angles with respect to the door frame 14, and a closed position, as indicated in phantom lines in FIGURE 3 wherein the door 12 is disposed in substantial coplanar relationship with the frame 14. The door retaining device 10 of the present invention is designed to be interposed between the door frame 14 and the adjacent edge 22 of the door 12 and thereby function to maintain the door 12 in its respective open position shown in FIGURE 1, as will hereinafter be described in detail.

Referring now in detail to the construction and operation of the door retaining device 10 of the present invention, as best illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3, the device 10 is shown as comprising a pair of generally flat or planar mounting sections 28 and 30 that are adapted to be dis-posed in coplanar relationship with the door edge 22 and frame surface 24, respectively. The mounting sections 28, 30 are preferably, although not necessarily, generally identical in rectangular size and shape, as indicated in FIGURE 2. The door retaining device 10 further comprises a central or intermediate retaining section 32 which is of a generally C-shaped configuration in transverse section (see FIGURE 1), and has the opposite edge portions thereof integrally connected to the adjacent ends of the mounting sections 28 and 30, with the result that the retaining device 10 is preferably in the form of a one-piece, unitized member.

In a preferred construction of the present invention, the door retaining device is fabricated of a spring-like material, such as spring steel, although it is contemplated that the device 10, under certain circumstances, could possibly be manufactured from a high tensile resilient plastic material such as polystyrene or the like. By way of example, one preferable material has been found to be .020" thick spring steel, although this particular material may be varied somewhat in accordance with the relative size of the door 12 and associated door frame 14, as well as with the degree of resistance which the retaining device 10 is intended to impart against closing movement of the door 12. In a typical installation on a residential or oice door, the retaining section 32 of the device 10 may be approximately 1.00 inch in diameter, with the distance D in FIGURE l being approximately .87 inch. In such a typical embodiment of the door retaining device 10, the angle between the mounting sections 28 and 30 prior to the device 10 being operatively installed is approximately 110, with the result that when the device 10 is operatively positioned as shown in FIGURE 1, the mounting sections 28, 30 and retaining section 32 are pla-ced under a slight state of compression.

In the illustrated embodiment of the door retaining device 10 of the present invention, means is provided for fixedly securing at least one of the mounting sections 28, 30 to its associated mounting surface, i.e., the door edge 22 or frame surface 24. Due to the natural resiliency of the device 10 and the fact that once the device is properly positioned interjacent the door 12 and frame 14, the retaining section 32 is slightly compressed thereby forcing the mounting sections 28, 30 into resilient engagement with the door edge 22 and door surface 24, it is usually not necessary to provide such securing means on both of the mounting sections 28, 30; hence, in the absence of any auxiliary forces exerted against the device 10, such securing means need be provided on only one of said sections 28, 30. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, such securing means is shown as comprising a pair of outwardly projecting, substantially pointed ears or dogs 34 and 36 which are formed integrally of the mounting section 28 and preferably comprise the outer corners thereof being bent or similarly deformed 90 from the plane of the mounting section 28. The ears 34, 36 are adapted to be embedded within the adjacent door edge 22 and thereby iixedly secure the retaining device 10 against any movement parallel to the pivotal axis of the hinge 16. It will be readily apparent, of course, that in the event either or both the door 12 and frame 14 are fabricated of a non-fibrous material, such as when they are constructed of a metallic material or the like, one or more of the mounting sections 28, 30 may Ibe operatively secured thereto by any suitable means, such as by appropriate screws, bolts or the like (not shown).

In operation, the retaining device 10 is adapted to be compressed manually a suicient amount to reduce the size (diameter) of the retaining section 32 so that said section 32 may be interposed or snapped through the space between the door edge 22 and adjacent portion of the frame 14. Thereafter, the ears 34, 36 may be pressed or similarly embedded into the door edge 22 to xedly secure the retaining device 10 in place. It will Ibe noted that the device 10 may be located at any longitudinal position between the door 12 and associated door frame 14, with a convenient location being directly adjacent the hinge 16 or adjacent the top or bottom edges of the door 12. Once the device 10 is thus installed, the resilient character of the retaining section 32 thereof will function to resist closing movement of the door 12, as might occur in the presence of a draft or strong circulation of air, thereby precluding the possibility of the door 12 inadvertently slamming or banging shut. It will be noted, of course, that although the retaining device 10 is intended to preclude inadvertent closing of the door 12,

said door may be easily closed upon exerting a nominal amount of effort thereagainst, and that the device 10, once operatively installed in the manner illustrated herein, will not interfere with normal closing of the door 12 when desired. Thus, once the retaining device 10 is operatively installed, it is unnecessary to ever remove said device since the door 12 will continue to function in its intended manner, with the retaining device 10 serving merely to prevent inadvertentpclosing movement of the door.

It will lbe seen from the foregoing description that the present invention satisfies the long felt need for a simple, economical and durable retaining device which will function to positively retain a door in an open position. By virtue of the fact that the door retainer 10 of the present invention requires no maintenance whatsoever and will exhibit a long and effective operational life, the present invention will readily experience enthusiastic commercial acceptance.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment illustrated herein is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a closure member adapted to be movably supported by an associated frame, jamb or the like,

a retaining device adapted to be operatively supported between said frame and an adjacent edge portion of said closure member,

said retaining device comprising first and second mounting sections adapted to engage said frame and said closure member, and

a retaining section connected to said mounting sections and adapted to resiliently resist movement of one of said mounting sections relative to the other of said mounting sections upon preselected movement of said closure member with respect to said frame, whereby said closure member will be maintained in a substantially open position and movement thereof toward a closed position will be resiliently resisted by said device.

2. The. invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining section is disposed intermediate said first and second mounting sections.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining section is integrally connected with one of said mounting sections.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining device comprises a one-piece member consisting of said iirst and second mounting sections and said retaining section.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining section comprises an arcuate configured member of generally C-shaped configuration, and wherein said mounting sections are fixedly secured to said retaining section at the opposite sides thereof.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining device is fabricated of a relatively stiff, yet bendable and spring-like material.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein said retaining device is fabricated of spring steel.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 1 which includes means for fixedly securing said first and second mounting sections to said frame. and said closure member.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for securing said mounting sections to said frame and said closure member comprises integral ear portions extending outwardly from said mounting sections and adapted to be at least partially embedded in said frame and said closure member.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining device comprises a one-piece member fabricated 5 6 of a spring-like material, and wherein Said mounting sec- References Cited tions are formed with at least one outwardly projecting UNITED STATES PATENTS ear portion adapted to be embedded in said frame and said closure member for securing said mounting sections 313291991 7/1967 Gobble 16-72 avainst relative movement alon said frame and said cosure memben g 5 BOBBY R. GAY, Prlmary Examlner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3,490 ,091 January 20 1970 Raymond A. Yombor It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, after line Z, insert 494 ,988 4/1893 Libbey -16-184 S91 ,359 10/1897 Pomeroy -16-184 2 ,998 ,618 9/1961 Roy --16-184 FOREIGN PATENT 678,208 8/1952 Great Britain Signed and sealed this 8th day of December 1970.

(SEAL) Attest: Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER,

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

